Our People

It’s the community of people that make the Co-Op a very special place. Since the Manly Food Co-Op began in 1997, it has been the community of members and volunteers who have visioned it, built it and sustained it. We’re linked by a set of common values. We value our own health, the health of our friends and family, and importantly, the health of our planet. We also value the spirit of community and being part of something good. For most of our members and customers, the Manly Food Co-Op is part of the heart and soul of Manly. We are a 100% community owned retail business. The strength of the Manly Food Co-Op is in the people it serves: our customers, our members and our community.

Our Team

When you visit the shop you’ll meet many of our friendly volunteers. We are also grateful to have a team of dedicated staff who run the shop on a daily basis and bring our Co-Op to life. If you want to get in touch with the shop, please email info[at]manlyfoodcoop.org.

Tania Ryan

Tania Ryan

Store Manager

“I joined the Co-Op as a member in early 2015 and started volunteering not long after. I love shopping at the Co-Op, I love what it stands for and I love the huge reduction in our household waste since shopping there. So when Sarah, our chair person, mentioned the possibility of creating a store manager role, I was very interested.
And here we are, a few months later and I’ve left my very comfortable 3 day a week Office Manager job for 5 days in the Co-Op. And I’m loving it. Sometimes you will find me and both my boys there. It’s becoming a bit of a family affair. I have noticed a definite shift in my kids’ attitude towards the environment and for that I am very grateful. I have always taught them to reduce, reuse and recycle, and I think that message is finally sinking in.
To be surrounded by like minded people is a privilege and I look forward to serving you for many years in the future. So come in and introduce yourself to me next time you’re in the shop – I’d love to meet you!”

Cian Ryan

Cian Ryan

Junior Shop Coordinator

I had started volunteering for the Co-Op starting back in 2016, putting in a few hours every week, following in the foot steps of my mother volunteering here. I always loved being a part of the community that the Co-Op has, where everybody has the same common interests in zero waste and organic foods. I always love helping members of the community by assisting in store with any questions and general help. I am excited about the new store now being open and I can’t wait to see how the store will grow and new members join the community.

Leanne Cresswell

Leanne Cresswell

Shop Coordinator

Leanne has been involved with the Co-Op since the beginning, volunteering a lot of her time in the shop. We are very happy to now have her as a shop coordinator who is doing the occasional shift when help is needed.
Katie Weate

Katie Weate

Shop Coordinator

I am very happy to be working at the Co-Op as it has been a part of my life ever since I was little. I love the community it creates and the good vibe that comes with it. I am invested in healthy living and organic foods, and I admire how the Co-Op is creating such an environmentally friendly atmosphere. I think what the Co-Op does is really important, by encouraging sustainable living and contributing to the War on Waste by being plastic free!

When I am not working at the Co-Op, I’m a student studying at University. In my free time I’m spending my day at the beach or just out in the sun!

Sarah Vanderfield

Sarah Vanderfield

Shop Coordinator

It is inspiring to see the power of community that makes up the Co-Op, particularly the dedication of the members and volunteers. I am excited to be working in a place aligned with my own values and encouraging me to continue working towards plastic free and zero waste living. I believe the everyday small choices are essential in causing profound change. I appreciate the opportunity the Co-Op provides to protect the environment and the future of the planet.

Outside of the Co-Op I am a university student studying clinical science. My spare time is filled with watching live music, helping out with the local #StopAdani campaign, reading and writing.

 


Volunteers

Our volunteers are what make the Co-Op tick! Volunteers are the life-blood of the Manly Food Co-Operative. Volunteers are involved in all facets of running the business, both in the store and beyond. Find out more about volunteering with us and please don’t hesitate to reach out via volunteercoordinator-AT-manlyfoodcoop.org.


Board of Directors

All our board members are volunteering their time to make the Co-op an even better place. 🙂

Please reach out to us anytime by emailing marketing[at]manlyfoodcoop.org. We are looking forward to hearing from you!

Sarah Weate

Sarah Weate

Chairperson, Finance

I was a founding member of the Co-Op and wrote the original, totally obsolete although cutting edge in its day, IT system with my husband Magennis. We also helped with countless stocktaking and I have ground more kilos of peanut butter than I could ever eat. I have been active in Manly Greens on and off for two decades and ran as NSW State Candidate in 2007. I was on Manly Council Bicycle committee for many years and also on their Climate Change Committee. Currently I am full time holding my teenagers’ hands (Frankie and Katie) while they are traumatized by the HSC and transition to uni. My last job involved a lot of nights away and interstate travel as a contract consultant at NAB’s investment banking arm. I was an Asset Manager responsible for new product and IT systems for the following areas: Equities, Equity Derivatives, Cross Asset Structured Products and Wholesale Equity Financing. I managed staff, budgets and prepared business viability reports for new product proposals.

Most importantly I was heavily involved in the campaign to Save the Co-Op. If you received an unsolicited text or two during that time blame me, but desperate times… I really enjoyed working with everyone with that campaign and I have huge respect for them all with the diverse talents everyone brought to that task. I am so glad that many of us are on the new board and I know I’ll enjoy working with them all and that it will be successful. Personally I hope to combine my financial and technical background with my strong commitment to environmental causes to do my bit to put the Co-Op on a sound financial footing. The Co-Op looks great, has great staff and it epitomizes a really important environmental message. I love the new improved store and I’m determined that it succeeds. And I’m keen to play a part in that.

Cathy Griffin

Coming Soon
Emmanuelle Convert

Emmanuelle Convert

Ordering

Originally from France, I have been living in Sydney for over 16 years. I have been a member (on and off) of the Co-Op for some time now as we have always been looking for alternatives to the supermarkets’ overly packaged products. Unfortunately, as we have never lived close to Manly, it has always been difficult to help at the Co-Op as I work full time and we like spending our weekends in the bush.

At the end of last year, I lost my job and decided to get involved with the Co-Op. I started volunteering in the shop on a weekly basis. And after some training with Sarah, I am now doing ordering and receiving products online.

I love being part of a community which is aware of the impact that we are having on our world and is aiming to reduce our waste as much as possible.

Jay Richardson

Jay Richardson

People and Culture

I’ve always been passionate about recycling, but it wasn’t until 2 years ago when my family took on the ‘Plastic free July’ challenge that we were introduced to the Manly Food Co-Op.

Now we think differently about where and how we shop and are always looking for ways to reduce our waste.

I’m excited about joining the board, not only because I get to use my HR and business skills to support an initiative I believe in, but also to ensure we remain sustainable into the future.

Keelah Lam

Keelah Lam

Waste Minimization, Zero Waste and Sustainability

As a founding member of Manly Food Co-op, a zero waste activist and believer of sustainable living not only being necessary, but easier than most realise, I am happy to be a member of the new board helping to keep our coop open and thriving. There has never been a more urgent time than now to support waste free shopping.

My incentive as a founding member of our Coop was to help our community move towards ZERO WASTE. My incentive to rejoin the management team is to help continue the availability of ZERO WASTE shopping.

Meredith Gee

Meredith Gee

Grants and Funding

I moved to Manly a bit over three years ago and couldn’t wait to live in a place with such an amazing bulk food store!

I love how the Co-Op values low waste, organic and local produce and in doing so creates a community of like-minded people. Having worked in waste and sustainability consulting as an engineer for the past 8 years, I’m very aware of how much waste we create. Going back to the same landfill and seeing how quickly it fills up, will scare anyone into thinking we need to do more. Where better to start than my own pantry!

I’m excited to contribute to the Board of the Co-Op. As a Co-Op with a community and environmental focus, I’m hoping we can get some funding support to strengthen our the standing.

Michael Kaluzynski

Michael Kaluzynski

Finance

I am from UK have been living in Manly for the past 2 years. I was interested to join the board to learn more about the practicalities of operating such a non-profit organisation and will be focusing on the financial side. I am intrigued by the feasibility of operating a sustainable food grocery store against the supermarket landscape and strongly believe in the co-op philosophy and reduction of household waste. Since moving to Australia, I have been impressed with the attitude towards care for the environment and specifically in Manly these ethics are strongly embedded within the community.
Yvonne Pflieger

Yvonne Pflieger

Marketing and Communications

The Manly Food Co-op has been instrumental in giving me a choice outside of the big supermarkets and helping me on my journey to a zero waste lifestyle. These days I very rarely visit a traditional supermarket as the co-op is always my first (and often only) choice as it stocks pretty much everything I need. I was so upset when I heard about the financial trouble the co-op was in. I wanted to help and became part of the fundraising committee. Who would have thought we’d actually be able to achieve our fundraising goal in such a short amount of time? But we did, thanks to our community and everyone’s passion and commitment. 🙂

I am excited to be a member of the board. My experience in digital advertising, marketing as well as business operations will be put to good use to set up the co-op for success for many more years to come. I have worked for small companies as well as big corporates like Adobe and have been leading Corporate Social Responsibility and Sustainability teams outside of my day job as I believe that businesses need to give back to the community and be more mindful of the environments they operate in.

I am keen to hear from you, our members and community. Please feel free to get in touch with any ideas, concerns or suggestions you might have by sending an email to marketing [at] manlyfoodcoop.org.


Get Involved In Our Community

The best place to find out about the regular goings-on at the Co-Op is to sign up to our e-news, follow our News Feed and our Facebook and Instagram pages. We regularly update our members and customers via our e-newsletter and via social media.

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Open Monday-Friday 9am to 6pm, Saturday 9am to 5pm, Sunday 10am - 4pm. Please see Google for updated shop hours during Covid lockdowns or public holiday periods.

M: 0468 413 975 |  E: info@manlyfoodcoop.org

Shop 1/11-25 Wentworth St, Manly NSW 2095